Johnson: Our style didn’t suit Roo

REVOLVING DOORS? Mike Petrasso could be on his way back to Athletic

ATHLETIC’S intricate style simply didn’t suit Adam Rooney, says manager Lee Johnson.

The club chose to allow the striker to make his move to Aberdeen, confirmed after a medical yesterday.

Johnson backed former Inverness, Birmingham and Stoke man Rooney to be a success again in the Scottish Premier League.

“If there is anybody you want to go and do well, it’s Roons. “If you look at Adam Rooney’s game and the teams he has played for, it is pretty much hit the front, get the knock down, get it wide, early cross, time your movement and finish. The way we play is expansive and intricate. And maybe it hasn’t suited him.

“He hasn’t done badly, scoring seven goals in 23 starts. But I don’t it’s any secret he is well paid for a club like ours. And how long do you wait? At some point you have to say this hasn’t quite worked.”

Rooney’s departure leaves Athletic on the lookout for a new forward.

Johnson remains open to fetching young talent from a top Premier League club on loan, but he is keen to first test prospects against Athletic’s first-team squad.

There still exists the possibility that QPR winger Mike Petrasso could return on loan, Johnson said.